Type-setting machine.



No. 7mm. Patented D50. 30, I902.

F. B. CONVERSE, m.

TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

l fifgffl dkf6 W L M /JW "is NORRIS PETERS pm. wnsnmcron. n c.

No. 7l7,l70. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

F. B. CONVERSE, 1n.

TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.]

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

co.', WASHINGTON, D. C

No. 717,|70. v Patented Dec. 30, I902.

F. B. c'ouveasa, 1R.

TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

Applcation filed Mar. 15, 1900] No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

g I Q.

1 UNITED ST ES P T NT OFF E.-

FRANCIS QB. CONVERSE, .13., or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, Assien'on To THE CONVERSE IMANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, .OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, soon- PORATION or OHIO.

, TYPE-SETTHNG MACHINE.

PEQIFIcA'rIQN forming-part 6r Letters I'atent No. 717,170, dated December '30, 1902. L

' Applioationfiled March 15.19pm seritinasseo. (Emmet) A 1b aZ Z whom it'may concern: I V

' Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. CONVERSE, Jr., a citizen of the United'States, residingat Louisville,in the county'of Jefferson and State I of Kentucky,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Type- Setting Machines, of which the'foilowing is aif'ull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to I theaccompanyin'g drawings. to, I The object of my invention is toprovide a type-setting machine adapted by very simple adjustments to set a variety-of ,sizesof type. In accomplishing this I provide a race-plate having conduits, down which theitype fall,

which may be adjusted for difierent sizes of type to prevent them fromturning over during their descent, and I associate with this a, series of'dogs engagingthe type between its passage from the type-case to the race-plate,

zo assisting its proper descension and likewise preventing its turning over. x

The'invention consists,'broadly,-in the combination,with means for holding the type and ejecting it, of conveying-conduits and means for adjusting their size for different fonts of type.

ite adjustable race -plate and the guide-dogs above referred to, and of the embodiment of iently summarized as consisting of. a combi- 3-5 nation of parts hereinafter "described, and

pointed out in the claims. I

The drawings clearly illustrate my inven: tion. Figure lis an elevation thereof looking toward the race-plate; and Fig.2 is a sub- 0 stantially vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the keyboard being shown in front elevation, however, and the section through the race-plate following one of the channels. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 5 3 3 of Fig. -1; Fig. 4, an enlarged face view of a portion of the race-plate nearits upper edge and of the lower part of one of the type-cases, and Fig. 5 an enlarged horizontal section on the line of Fig. l. Figs. 6and 7are fragge incntary horizontal sections through typefuller description.

More particularly,itconsis'ts of the composjcases, showing their construction andillus-f .trating the range of the type carried. Fig, 8 is a perspective viewof'one of the guide-dogs. The machine'shown is carried onenita'ble I vertical standards a, braced by suitable cr'oss 5 5 bars a 'ct ',-&c., and-"carrying at.th'ei-r upper 4 ends a honizontalopen frame a The type cases (designated B).have'their bases b'resting in a suitable frecess provided in the upper .fac'e'of the cross member a which forms the to forward end of the horizontal frame a The type-casesare divided byvertical partitions;

b into channels,which carry the -type on'their fiat sides. On the rearsidexof the cases. are orifices 11 one ,for-each channel, through which an ejector mayenter to shove the type frorn'the case. The ejecting mechanism shown is chosen simply as illustrative and'doesnot specifically constitute a part of the inven- 'tion. It issho'wn and describedin my prior 7o patent, 'No.'60l,706, granted to nie April 5, 1898, to which reference is hereby made for a Briefly described,it is as follows: A'system of longitudinalmovable bars 0, sidebyside and one foreach type channelin the cases B, is suitably guided in guides OT across the horizontal frame a.

At the rear of each bar 0 is hinged a tail G which has on its upper side-teeth c, in the rear of which is a notch c, and on its upper 8 side teeth .at'the frontof which is a notchc A pairof toothed cylinders G O are suitably journaled across the tailsC 'above and below them, respectively,-in-snbstan 'tially the relative position shown in Fig. 2. '85

These toothed cylinders are revolved (by a belt on their pulleys c 0. inthe direction of the arrows--that is, the lower edge ofthe up- .percylinder movesforward and the upper edge of the lower cylinder moves rearward, o Beneath each ejector-tail is abell-crank d, which is shown as connected by a wire d (all the wires butone are omitted-from the drawingsfor clea-rness) with a rock-arm d projecting from the rock-shaft (i which rock- 5 shaft has another rock-arm 01 connected with the stem 01 of a finger-key, asd, in the keyboard D. Now if a finger-key is depressed this draws down one ofthe wires '61, swin gin ginto avertical position the upwardly. Ioo

" projecting arm of the corresponding bellmachine shown.

cranh d, and thus raises the ejector-tail so that lts upper teeth 0 come-into engagement with the gear-cylinder O This advances the ejector-bar, shoving the lowest type in the case forward from it. As the ejector-bar reaches this-forward position the notch c comes beneath the cylinder-C freeing the ejector therefrom, and at thesame time the notch 0 comes over the bell-crank d and the ejector-tail dropsidown, so that the teeth c come into engagement with the cylinder 0 which withdraws the ejector to its original position, the withdrawal returning the bell- "c'rank and the finger-key to their positions cases and near their lower edge is a horizontal bar E, which'is secured by screws 9 to lugs a projecting upward from the portion a of the horizon-tal frame a .A glass plate G may be supported by this bar across the front of the type cases, the plate being shown as guided at its edges in vertical standards a, rising from the cross member d rear side of the cross-bar E (which for convenience of construction is preferably made on a separate piece of metal 6) lies just above the lowest type in thecases, preventing the ejection of more thanv one type. The bar E, and with it the edge e and the glass plate, are vertically adjustable by suitable means to vary the opening beneath the edge 6-, according to the size of the type in the type-case. This adjustment I have provided by surrounding the screws 6 with stilt protrusile springs F,'contained in recesses in the bar E and hearing at their upper edges against the top of said recesses and at their lower edges against the lugs ai.

Extending downward from the forward edge of the cross member a is the composite race-plate, consisting of the stationary plate H and the cocperating adjustable plate H, carried thereby. The plate H is shown as secured by screws 72., passing from a depending flange on the cross member a into the upper edge of the plate H, andat its lower end by screws 71., passing through a plate k carried by the cross-bar a of the frame into a boss 71, on the plate H. In the forward side of this plate are a series of grooves or channels 77?, preferably of equal depth, being divided by partitions 71 Each channel is at its upper end of suitable width preferably to receive the type from two adjacent channels in a type-case. As the grooves descend contiguous grooves merge together, the partitions (Not shown.)

The

h terminating substantially as shown inFi'gs. 1 or 4, In the machine shown there are eighty channels in a type-case and forty at the upper edge of the race-plate, which are reduced 'to six farther down on the race-plate, which six come togetherinto a common channel h at the lower end of the race-plate, as shown. The grooves in the race-plate are curved, so that their length and thefrictional resistance which they cause to the falling type shall cause the type to pass from any point at the upper edge of the race-plate to the common channel in equal times. The movable plate H on the race-plate has recesses h", receiving the various partitions and projections h of varying thickness. It will be seen, therefore,

that while the grooves in the plate H are all of the same depth the conduits comprehended between the two plates are of diifere'ntc'ross section, according to the size of the projections h grooves sufficiently so as to allow the adj ustment of the plate H away from the plate H equal to the difference between the thickness of the largest and smallest fonts carried, whereby there will still be closed conduits at any point of the adjustment.

In constructing the race-plate I first mill out from a flat plate of iron or steel by a suitable templet the plate H, and then using this plate as one side of a mold I cast in it the plate H of some'less refractory material, as brass or hard pewter. All that is necessary then to do is to mill down the facesof the projections h carried by this plate H, to the right height. The plate H will thus accurately cooperate with theplate H and may be .very simply and cheaply constructed. The

plate H is supported from the plate H by means of studs h screwing into the plate H and projecting through the plate H. Pro-- trusile springs h surrounding the studs h"- and lying in recesses in plate H, tending to separate the two plates and nuts it, screw. onto the projecting ends of these studs, limiting the separation. There are preferably three of these studs and nuts, twonear the upper corners of the race-plate and one near the lower edge. The not h has a flaring base similar to the knob of a combination-lock, and around this edge are placed suitable charac ters indicating the different fonts which the adjustment renders the machine capable of carrying. On the front edge of the plate H is a These projections h enter the:

suitable pointer or projection h to form the measuring point for these characters. As shown in the drawin gs,th'e plates are adjusted for the smallest size of typeintended to be carriednamely, nonpareil. The two plates H H are close together, and the designating-letter N on the knobs registers with the pointer h If the three knobs are turned until the letter 1 registers with the pointer, the

race-plate H will be forced by the springs h away from the plate H until the comprehended conduits are large enough to take a font min-ionsize. fzimilarly this machine may take brevier, bourgeois, longprinter, small plate and to allow it to swing from a horizontal to a vertical position in said passage.

" The opening caused by this cutting'away is dividedinto the corresponding channels by webs e carried by the bar E and adjustable vertically with it and takingat their front edges into the corresponding channels Win the plate'H'. As the type is ejected by the advancing bar 0 its forward end comes onto the ledge formed by the upper edge of the plate H, and its foot swings downward'by gravity to the upper corner of'plate H as a center into the vertical position, from whence it drops into the race-plate channels. To in-' sure such passage of the type and prevent their sticking against the curved side ofthe opening on or turning. over'in the passage, I support by the bar E a series of dogs J, which consist of strips of flat metal of a width slightly less than the. distance between the consecutive webs e thatis, substantially-the width of the channels at the upper edge of the race-plate. These strips are bent into the trilateral form, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8. Their extreme sidesj and are substantially parallel, and at the extreme edges of these sides arein ward flanges j 7' The flange 7' takes into a corresponding groove formed 1n the bar E by reason of its edge piece 6", whereby the dogs are virtually pivoted to that bar, and the flanges 7' normally rest on the upper side of the bar E and form stops limitingthedescentofthedogs. Theintermediate side j of the dogs is formed at an obtuse angle with the sidej and with an acute angle with the side J, as shown. This acute angle nor wally-projects into the'space, which is a forward prolongation of the bottom type in the case. As the type is ejected from the case it thus engages the side J, swinging the dog upward on its pivot J allowing the passage of thetype to itsvforward position with its front end on the upper edge of the plate H, As soon as the rearend of the type is released the dog, acting downward on the type, swings it around the corner of the plate H as a center, preventing its slipping backward against the curved surface of the opening a and causing it to come into a substantially vertical position before it is released. The distance between the acute angle of the dog J and the plate H is adjusted in or out for the different sizes of type, keeping this distance right to prevent the turning of the type on a longitudinal axis as they swing to the vertical position.

A suitable range of type may be used in the same type-case. Fig. 6 illustrates a case which is adapted toreceive type var'yingfrom pica to bourgeois. Fig. 7 shows a case made to fit the same machine,'having the same out side dimensions andthe same distance between the channels to receive type from brevier to nonp'areil. Thesetwo'cases will cover the range desired. The partitions b between the channels in Fig. 7 are made longitudinally" corrugated to reduce the effective tance between their centers ormateri'ally increasing the weight of the partitions. I

Suitable glass plates 7t are shown-as set size of the channels without changing the disinto the plate H, so that the descent of the .type may be observed by the operator.

As the type reach the lower end of the raceplate' they are fed forward into a common channel, which, as shown in the. drawings,

angle-plate h isadjustahle toward and from the plate It by means of screws hi taking into slots h in the plate h. The upper cornerjl 'of the plate h is beveled, so as not to interfere with the descension of the type when the plateis adjusted for receiving the smallest sizes. As the type arrives in this common channel it is fed forward by a suitable reciprocating packer K. The packer shown consists of a plate narrow enough to enter the channel when adjusted for the smallest size of type and longitudinally guided in the boss 713 on the back of the plate H. At its rear end this packer is shown as carrying a strap 10, which extends around an eccentric k on a shaftki, which is conti nuousl y revolved by a suitable belt passing ouer the pulley 70 v I 4 From what has been described it will be. seen that simply by turning the knobs h and the screws e, adjusting the common channel and changing the type-case's, adjustment may be made of the machine shown all the way justment could be increased still further than here shown, if desirable, though a' range corresponding to that from nonpareil to pica IIO (pica having a body twice the size of nonpw reil) enables-the machine to handle the usual sizes of body-type in most general use.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. Ina type-setting machine, the combina':

tion, of a composite race-plate having a plurality of channels which are of adjustable size, and means for indicating the font of type which said channels are adapted to take, substantially as described.

2. in a type-setting machine, in combination, means for holding a supply of type, a race-plate having a plurality of cond uits leading to a common point, means for ejecting type fromthe supply for said conduits down which they may fall by gravity, means for adjusting the size of said conduits, and means for indicating the capacity of such size after adjustment, substantially as described.

3. In a typesetting machine, in combination, an adjustable race-plate having a series of conduits of various sizes leading from many points above to common points below, a knob I adapted to beturned on its axis and thereby simultaneously govern the proportionate adjustment of the size of several cond nits, and a system of marking on the knob and a relatively stationary part to indicate for each adjustment the 's'ize'of font the race-plate can take, substantially as described.

4. In a type-setting machine, in combinaplate adjustable for different fonts of type, and two type-cases interchangeably cooperating therewith, said cases having typechannels of different size, the channels of one case being adapted to confine type smaller than can be confined by the channels of the other case, and the race-plate being adjustable for both cases, substantially as described.

6. In a type-setting machine, the combination of a race-plate having a plurality of conduits leading from several points above to a common point below, means for adjusting the size of said conduits, interchangeable typecases, means for suitably supporting either of 3 them, means for ejecting type therefrom into v a position where it will pass into the conduits in the race-plate, said interchangeable cases having substantially the same external dimen- 'sions and having channels adapted to, confine type of different sizes, which channels are of substantially the same distance between their centers in the diiferent cases, substantially as described.

tion, a type-case consisting of aback and sides and projecting partitions dividing the case into channels, said partitions being of mate rial corrugated longitudinally whereby the effective width of the channels for holding type is reduced without varying the position between the centers of the channels, or mate-' rial'ly increasing the weight of the case, substantially as described.

8. In a type-setting machine, in combination, means for holding a supply of type, suit able conduits down which type are adapted to fall by gravity, means for ejecting the type from the supply into position where they may fall by gravity into the channels, and a series or dogs adapted to engage the type during such ejection, substantially as described.

9. In a type-setting machine, the combination of a channel for holdingtype, a conduit down which type ejected therefrom may pass, means for ejectingtype from the channel, a dogwhich is engaged and lifted by the'ejected type and which presses thereafter upon the ejected type until the type has swung to a nearly-vertical position, substantially as described.

10. In a type-setting machine, in combination, means for holding a supply of type, suitable channels down which the type are adapted to fall by gravity, means for ejecting the type from the supply into position where they may fall by gravity into the channels, and a. series of pivoted dogs adapted to engage the upper sides of the type and be raised thereby during this ejection and adapted tothen press downward on the type and assist in swinging it downward, substantially as described.

11. In a type-setting machine, the combina tion with a channel for holding type and.

means for ejecting it therefrom, of a conduit down which, the ejected type may pass, and

a pivoted dog having an inclined face in the path of ejection adapted to swing upward therefrom, substantially as described.-

12. In a type-setting machine, a race-plate having channels down which type may pass,

type-cases supported above and at the rear of the race-plate, means for ejecting type from the cases forward above the race-plate to a position where they are adapted to swing downward into a vertical position and-pass into the race-plate,'a bar extending across this swinging position, and a series of dogs carried by said bar and adapted to engage the upper side of the ejected type and prevent it turning on a longitudinal axis while swinging into the'vertical position, substantially as described.

13. In a typesetting machine, in combination, a race-plate having conduits down which type may pass, type-cases supported above "and behind the race-plate, means for ejecting type from the cases forward onto a ledge above the race-plate in a position wherethey are adapted to swing downward on the cornor of said ledge as a center into a vertical position and pass into the race-plate, and a series of dogs adapted to engage the upper side of the ejected type and prevent it turning on a longitudinal axis while swinging into carried by said bar and adapted to engage the upper side of the ejected type and prestop limiting the movement ofthe active cortion, a race-plate having channels down ventit turning on a longitudinal axis and as l sist in swinging it into the vertical position, and means for vertically adjustingsaid bar, substantially as described,

15. In a type-setting machine, in combination, a race-plate having conduits down which type may pass, type-cases suitably supported, means for ejecting type from the cases to a position where they are adapted to swing downward into a vertical position and pass into the race-plate, a bar extending across this swinging position,a series of dogs carried by said bar and adapted to engage the upper side of the ejected type, said dogs consistiug of strips of metal bent into a trilateral form, there being flanges on the edges of the extreme sides, one of which flanges operates as a pivot for the dog and the other asa ner thereof, substantially as described.

, 16. Inatype-settingmachine, thecomhination of a race-plate having channels down which type may pass, type-cases suitably supported, means for ejecting the type from the type cases into position where they may swing by gravity into a vertical position to pass down said race-plate, a horizontal bar extending across such swinging position, vertical webs depending from said bar, dogs oarried by said bar and adapted to engage the ejected type, and means for adjusting said bar vertically, substantially as described.

17. In a type-setting machine, in combinawhich type may pass, type-cases suitably supported above and at the rear of the race-plate, the position of said type-cases being such that the lowest type therein may be ejected in a line which is a continuation of its nor-. mal position onto a ledge above the raceplate, and a series of dogs adapted to engage the type during such ejection and bear down on the type a distance back from the corner of said ledge approximately equal to the thickness of the type, substantially as described.

18. 'In a type-setting machine, in combination, a race-plate having channels down which type may pass, type-cases above and at the rear of said race-plate, means for ejecting typefrom said cases forward above the raceplate where they may swing down by gravity about a suitable substantially stationary cor-- nor as a center, and a series of dogs acting on the ejected type at the rear of said corner a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the type, said dogs being carried by a vvertically-adjustable'bar, substantially as dewhere they pass into said race-plate, a c0mmon receiving-channel at the lower endof said race-plate, suitable dogs for engaging said type during their ejection from the channels to the race-plate, and means for adjusting the size of the conduits in the -,race-plate and the position of the dogs, substantially as described.

20., In a type-setting machine, in combination, a seriesot channels 'for holding type, a race-plate having a plurality of conduits leading downward to a common position, means for ejecting type from the channels to a position where they pass into said race-plate, a common receiving-channel at the lower end of said race-plate, suitable dogs for engaging said type during their ejection from the channels to the race-plate, and means for adjusting the size of the common receiving-channel and the size of the conduits in the race-plate, substantially as described.

21. In a typesetting machine, the combination of a series of channels for holding type,

a series of conduits down which type ejected therefrom may pass, means for so ejecting the type from the channels, and a series of dogs adapted to engage the upper side of the type during such ejection and assist in turning it to pass into said vertical channels, said dogs consisting of trilateral pieces of metal J having three sides jj 7' a suitable bar stationary in operation to which, the sides J are pivoted, said dogs occupying such position that the angle between the sides 3' and the side j engages the upper side of the type and bears down upon it as the type is ejected onto a suitable ledge, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signatnrein the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS 1;; convnnsn, JR.

Witnesses CHARLES PLATNER, Gno. REILLY. 

